Those looking for major upside at affordable price levels are finding plenty of action in 2025. Names like BlockDAG, Ethena (ENA), Hedera (HBAR), and Stellar (XLM) have started to draw more attention, thanks to strong technical setups, expanding ecosystems, and consistent momentum.
Some are riding multi-week rallies, while others are gaining ground during presale phases that rival even post-listing activity. Although all are trading under a dollar, their fundamentals, rising volumes, and breakout patterns put them ahead of many higher-priced coins. If you’re tracking the top-performing crypto under $1, these four are well worth your attention.
1. BlockDAG: $0.0016 Until August 11 with $1 Targets Post Launch
Currently priced at $0.0016 through August 11, BlockDAG (BDAG) isn’t just another low-cost crypto trying to get noticed. It’s showing one of the strongest setups in the under-$1 range. With over $356 million raised, 24.4 billion BDAG coins sold, and 28 batches completed, this presale is hitting record territory.
Early participants have already captured a 2,660% return in batch 29. However, those buying now can still lock in a 3025% ROI by launch, due to the limited-time $0.0016 offer. Once the presale ends, BDAG will list at $0.05, securing that 3025% return. And that’s just the beginning.
Forecasts after launch are looking toward the $1 mark, a move that would mean a 62,400% jump from its current price. This potential is not just speculation, it’s backed by actual adoption. BlockDAG uses a layer 1 structure powered by DAG technology, which enables faster transactions by running them in parallel instead of sequentially, cutting both time and cost.
Its community is already growing fast, with more than 200,000 holders and 2.5 million users mining BDAG on the X1 mobile app. It’s not a project hoping for relevance after its exchange debut, it’s scaling before that ever happens. For those hunting top-performing crypto under $1, BlockDAG is one project not waiting to gain traction. It’s already gaining it.
2. Ethena (ENA): Heavy Trading Volume Pushes Price Toward $0.50
Ethena (ENA) has made its way back onto trader radars after nearly doubling in value, rising 98% in the past month. It’s now closing in on the $0.50 level, a zone that often triggers further action as psychological resistance comes into play.
What makes ENA’s move stand out is the $2 billion in trading volume in a single day, a rare number for a crypto in this price category. This isn’t just random interest, that volume shows strong commitment. Even if ENA cools off in the short term, its current activity earns it a solid place among the top-performing crypto under $1 worth monitoring closely.
3. Hedera (HBAR): Quietly Climbing with Nearly $1B in Daily Volume
Hedera (HBAR) is trading near $0.2740 after building a 95% gain over the past month, reclaiming price levels it hadn’t touched in a long time. It’s not just the price rise that matters here. Daily volume has climbed to just under $1 billion, indicating that buyers aren’t just retail traders chasing spikes.
HBAR’s recent move suggests the market is giving more attention to its hashgraph-based system, which provides an alternative to blockchain by improving speed and consensus methods. Broader trends might still shape its pace, but HBAR is making a serious case to be ranked among the top-performing crypto under $1 gaining steam this summer.
4. Stellar (XLM): A Clean Breakout from Long-Term Stagnation
After a long stretch of flat trading, Stellar (XLM) is finally showing signs of strength. It’s now up more than 95% over the past 30 days and is testing the $0.50 ceiling. The move has been supported by rising volume, which recently came close to $900 million in 24-hour trades.
XLM has broken above a lengthy consolidation range, a technical shift that may point to a deeper change in market sentiment. If it clears the $0.50 mark decisively, the door could open to new bullish setups. Within the group of top-performing crypto under $1, Stellar appears ready to start a more active phase.
Which of These Is Really Breaking Through the Noise?
Ethena’s volume push, Hedera’s ongoing price lift, and Stellar’s breakout all bring something to the table. But BlockDAG’s massive presale progress, $356 million raised, 200,000 holders, and a 3025% return window, resets the conversation.
It’s also the only layer 1 crypto in this group that’s still in presale and priced this low at just $0.0016 until August 11. All four coins are showing promise among top-performing crypto under $1, but BlockDAG is already generating the kind of movement that usually happens only after listings.
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